virgin islands scene

So is cheerfulness, or a good temper, the more it is spent, the more remains.
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
 

 

Tuesday, November 25, 2025

Justify your behaviors

Challenge yourself with some powerful questions. Ask yourself why, and why not, and what’s the alternative?

A particular desire is pulling at your sleeve, begging to be fulfilled as soon as possible. The mere fact that you’re obsessed with it is not necessarily a good reason to pursue it.

So ask yourself why it would be a good idea, and also why it might not be such a great idea. Then, ask yourself if there is a better alternative.

It’s easy to get into the habit of following your whims without even questioning them. Yet that can eventually end up wasting a lot of your time or creating conditions that are not in your best interest.

It’s helpful to examine the small, seemingly innocuous desires before they lead you into habitual behaviors you’ll come to regret. When you force yourself to justify your own actions, those actions and their outcomes are likely to improve.

They’re just little questions, yet they can make a big positive difference when you’re honest with yourself. Why, why not, and what’s the alternative?

— Ralph Marston

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